Campanula plant named ‘Blue Angel’

ABSTRACT

A plant variety of the Campanulaceae family, having the varietal designation ‘Blue Angel’, with a spreading growth habit, showy appearance from many blooms, and large campanulate, actinomorphic flowers. Flowers are R.H.S. 91 A (violet-blue group).

Latin name of genus and species of the plant claimed: The new plant isCampanula×haylodgensis Hort.

Varietal denomination: The new plant's varietal denomination is ‘BlueAngel’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of theCampanulaceae family. The new variety is named ‘Blue Angel’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The distinguishing characteristics of the new variety are retained byasexually reproduced, successive generations.

The plant is a found, mutant, whole plant sport of Campanula×hayodensisHort. ‘Blue Rose’. The plant was found by the inventor in a cultivatedarea in a commercial nursery.

The new variety possesses the commercially desirable characteristics of:a spreading growth habit with dense foliage, and it produces manyrelatively large flowers that at maturity are R.H.S. 91 A (violet-bluegroup).

The new variety differs from its parent and other related cultivars byvirtue of its large flowers.

The inventor has asexually reproduced the new variety through threesuccessive generations by cuttings at a commercial nursery in Half MoonBay Calif., and has found that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed remain firmly fixed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings serve, by color photographic means, toillustrate the new plant variety. The colors are represented as truly aspossible using conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph of a plant grown from a cutting in one potof the new variety illustrating the overall appearance and form of theplant, and the abundance of blooms.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph of a number of flowers of the new variety.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph of the plant showing the top of the plant.

FIG. 4 is a color photograph of various flowers removed from the plant.

FIG. 5 is a color photograph of a plant removed from its soil.

FIG. 6 is a color photograph of the base of a plant removed from itssoil.

FIG. 7 is a color photograph of a single main stem of the new variety.

FIG. 8 is a color photograph of a single main stem of the new variety.

FIG. 9 is a close-up, color photograph of a single stem of the newvariety, showing buds of the new variety.

FIG. 10 is a close-up, color photograph of a single stem of the newvariety, showing buds of the new variety.

FIG. 11 is a color photograph of various buds and flowers removed fromthe plant.

FIG. 12 is a color photograph of various leaves removed from the plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new variety. The newvariety has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. Color designation and other values stated may deviateslightly from the stated values from flowering to flowering, but thedeviations will be within the range expected from varying environmental,seasonal and cultural conditions. Color designations were made accordingto The R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Societyof London, England.

The pictured plant was grown in a 6 inch pot.

The following description is based on observations of optimallyfertilized plants grown at a commercial nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif.Temperatures in Half Moon Bay on average range from 55 to 65 degreesFahrenheit in the summer months, and from 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit inthe winter months.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

-   Varietal name: ‘Blue Angel’.-   Classification: Family—Campanulaceae. Genus and    Species—Campanula×haylodgensis Hort.-   Form: Herbaceous, terrestrial plant with many spreading lateral    stems. Lateral stems are many branched with the plant spreading well    away from its pot. The observed plants were approximately 17 cm    high. Stems can range from 15 cm to 20 cm in length. Plant grown in    a 6″ pot that is ready for commercial sale has a diameter of 50 cm.-   Stems:    -   -   General.—Stems are many branched with new shoots growing in            leaf interfaces. Lateral branches that are relatively long            when compared to the main stem usually start at the 11^(th)            or 13th node below the terminal flower. Each lateral branch            and each branch from a lateral branch ends in a terminal            flower giving the plant a showy appearance. Node length is            variable.        -   Size.—Width — 1 mm at base of flowers and as much as 2 mm            wide where lateral stems have grown from main stem.        -   Color.—The upper, non-woody portions of the main stems are            R.H.S. 146A (yellow-green group). The middle portions of the            stems and new stems are R.H.S. 145A (yellow-green) group.            Woody portions of stems are 164 B (greyed-orange group).        -   Texture.—Glabrous in upper and mid portions and woody at            base.-   Leaves:    -   -   General.—Leaves are whorled on the stem. Very young leaves            are simple, lanceolate, with margins that are entire,            although somewhat serrilate near the apex, the apex is            acute, and the very young leaves have a relatively smaller            petiole than older leaves. Mature leaves have broadly acute            apexes, rounded to truncate bases, and are serrate and            ovate, with relatively petioles. Leaves are pinnately            veined.        -   Size.—Length — Mature leaves that are approximately 10 nodes            below the meristem of the lateral branch are approximately            33 mm long, including the petiole. The petiole on these            leaves is approximately 16 mm long and the blade is 17 mm            long. Leaves closer to the stem's terminal infloresence lack            petioles or have reduced petioles. Leaves even farther down            the stem than 10 nodes can have a petiole that is 30 mm long            with a blade that is 13 mm long and 15 mm wide. Width —            Mature leaves are approximately 15 to 22 mm wide.        -   Color.—Adaxial surfaces of leaf and the petiole are            predominately R.H.S. 147 A (yellow-green group), while the            abaxial surfaces of the leaf and petiole are predominantly            R.H.S. 147 B (yellow-green group).        -   Texture.—Abaxial surfaces of the leaves and petioles are            glabrous. Adaxial surfaces of the leaves are glabrous.-   Flowers:    -   -   General.—Flowers are actinomorphic, solitary on cymes, with            three or four mature flowers at the top of each cyme with            many younger buds farther down on the stem/inflorescence            when the plant is ready for commercial sale. There is no            beginning of the infolorescence and thus no discinct            peduncle. Pedicels, carrying the solitary terminal flowers            are glabrous and R.H.S. 146A (yellow-green group), 1 mm in            width and vary in length from 5 mm to 25 mm. Flowers are            also perfect, terminal and 5-lobed. The calyx is united. The            corrola is campanulate with many whorls of petals. The            stamens have wings. Buds are campanulate and R.H.S. 147 B            (yellow-green group). Buds that are almost ready to open are            7 mm in diameter and 7 mm high. Plants are easily forced to            bloom in the summer in Half Moon Bay, Calif.        -   Sepals.—General: The calyx is 5-lobed, regular and united to            the ovary, and lanceolate with acute apexes and entire            margins. Size: Length — 4 mm from base to tip of sepals when            corrolla is 14 mm long and flower is mature. Width — 2 mm at            base. Color: R.H.S. 147 A (yellow-green group) on both the            abaxial and adaxial surfaces. Texture: few small white            hairs.        -   Petals.—General: Petals inserted on ovary and form 5-lobed            somewhat bell-shaped flower with multiple whorls (4).            Corrola is campanulate. Petals are fused at their base but            can be considered to be approximately 15 mm in width and 15            mm in height. Petals are broadly acute at their apex. Size            of Flower (at full bloom): Height of flower — 14 mm.            Diameter of flower — 22 mm. Color: Mature flowers are R.H.S.            91A (violet-blue group) on both abaxial and adaxial            surfaces. The adaxial surfaces of the petals have less            pigmentation at the base of the petals and more pigmentation            at the tips. The pigmentation of the abaxial surface of the            petals is more even. Outermost petals of the flower, when            the flower is still immature, are R.H.S. 145 C (yellow-green            group) on both abaxial and adaxial surfaces and develop            pigmentation as the flower matures. Texture: Succulent.            Glabrous when mature.        -   Androecium (stamens).—General: 2 to 5 inserted stamens            having basal winged filaments that cover and hide the ovary.            Anthers become desiccated. Stamens and anthers are often not            fully formed and not uniform. Total length of stamens is            typically 10 mm long. Color — Wings and filament are white            R.H.S. 155D (white group). Texture — Glabrous, but with            short hairs on the wings. Anther: Shape — Rod shaped, if            formed. Color — Sometimes tips of filaments, where anthers            would be, if present, can be R.H.S. 91A (violet-blue group).        -   Gynoecium (pistil).—General: Compound, parietal placentation            with united style. Style: General — Inserted in top of            ovary. Shape — Elongated. Usually 2 to 3 mm longer than            stamens that have anthers. Color — R.H.S. 155 D (white            group). Stigma: General — Inserted at maturity and erect, if            it exists, generally with 1 lobe that is reflexed. Stigma is            usually withered by the time the flower matures. Size — 1 mm            long. Ovary: General — Inferior. Thin epidermis with 3            locules, forming 3 carpels with axile placentation. The            ovary is covered by the lobes of the sepals. Color — R.H.S.            147 A (yellow-green group).-   Fragrance: None.

1. A new and distinct variety of Campanula plant, substantially asherein shown and described.